Utah Jazz loses in overtime to Denver Nuggets despite Donovan Mitchell’s 57 points performance

The NBA 2020 playoffs kicked off with the Denver Nuggets and Utah Jazz squaring off in a matchup that stretched into overtime to decide a winner, and we couldn’t have asked for a better game to open the 2020 playoffs.

Donovan Mitchell was best by Jamal Murray in overtime as the latter carried the Nuggets to a 135-125 win and a 1-0 lead in the series, after both players exchanged shots back and forth down the stretch.

Mitchell, however, finished the game with 57 points, becoming the youngest player since Michael Jordan to score 50-plus points in a playoff game.

The Jazz seemed to have taken control for the majority of the second half, and looked like they would be able to manage a win but an All-Star effort from Jamal Murray forced overtime, and his play, helped by a meltdown from Utah in OT, decided the tie. Murray scored 10 of his 36 points in OT to secure the win for Denver and finished the game just shy of a double-double with nine assists.

The smooth transition and chemistry between Murray and Nikola Jokic proved to be too much for Utah, as the sweet-shooting 7-footer displayed his huge offensive versatility in the first half of the game, and ended the contest with 29 points and 10 boards.

Also, a wide-open 3-pointer by Jokic with two minutes to go in overtime allowed Denver to extend their lead to nine, essentially icing the game for the Nuggets.

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Watch Jamal’s incredible 36pts performance in Nuggets 135-125 win against Utah Jazz

Utah were without guard Mike Conley, who had to leave and be around for the birth of his son. Denver on the other hand were also without their guard Gary Harris (right hip strain) and forward Will Barton (right knee soreness).

The Nuggets managed to score the first eight points in overtime and hardly ever trail in the extra period.

Murray hit a three-pointer and made the score 123-115, plus after Clarkson hit a turnaround jumper, Jokic drilled another three-pointer to put Denver ahead by nine.

Mitchell, who had 22 points alone in the fourth quarter, scored on a three-pointer to cut it to 128-122 with 1:08 left but Murray hit his sixth triple of the game and the Nuggets closed it out to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.